Legislation introduced in Sacramento last week aims to get kids out .... into nature, that is.

The bill's author, Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Pacoima, says outdoor education helps kids to raise their knowledge of science and keep them healthy by giving them exercise. No wonder the bill has the support of the Sierra Club and the American Diabetes Association.

In fact, a 2005 study by the California Department of Education found that children in outdoor programs raised their science test scores by 27 percent.

If passed, SB207 would create an outdoor education and recreation program through the California Department of Parks and Recreation. The grants would be awarded to school programs and community groups, giving priority to at-risk and underserved youth.

In the Inland region, we have groups that already do this, most notably The Wildlands Conservancy nestled in the rolling foothills of Oak Glen. But it can't hurt to get more help.

Leave a comment

Name: (required)

Email: (required; will not be displayed)

URL:  (optional)

Remember personal info?

Comment: (you may use basic HTML tags for style)

Captcha:

Type the characters you see in the picture above.

Note: You will need to re-enter the captcha field after previewing